Improvement in adjustable firing-pins for breech-loading fire-arms



lvrrnn STATES LUOIUS DIMOOK, OF LEEDS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ADJUSTABLE FIRING-PINS FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,716, dated January 25, 1876; application filed December 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUoIUs DIMOGK, of Leeds, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Firing-Pins for Breech-Loading Fire- Arms and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same:

The object of my invention is to produce a firing-pin adapted to both rim-fire and centerfire cartridges. I

The invention consists in a novel construction, arrangement, and combination, with the breech-block, of a firing-pin and a plug which carries the same, the firing-pin having a reciprocating longitudinal motion inthe plug, which is arranged so that it may be turned in its seat in the breech-block without being removed therefrom, in order to adjust the firingpin for either center firing or rim firing.

In carrying out my invention, Imake in the breech-block of the fire-arm a recess, which forms a seat for a plug carrying the firing-pin. The plug is held in place by means of a nut engaging with a screw-thread on its rear portion. The plug may be cylindrical or tapering; but I prefer to make it tapering, as it is thus held tightly in place when the nut is screwed up. The axis of rotation of the plug is parallel with the axis of the bore of the firearm; and if the plug is cylindrical its axis should be somewhat higher than that of the bore. The firing-pin works longitudinally in the plug, and is provided with a spring for holding it in a retracted position. By rotating the plug in its seat in the breechblock, the firing-pin is adjusted to either the rim or the center of the cartridge.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the manner of carrying out my invention, Figure 1 being a sectional view, showing the firingpin adjusted for center firing; Fig. 2, a similar view, with the pin adjusted for rim firing; Fig. 3, a face view of the plug; and Fig. 4, a detail View.

The invention is represented as applied to a pistol. The barrel A, stock B, and breech- .block 0 are of the usual or any suitable construction. The plug D is here shown as tapering or conical, and inserted in a seat or recess of corresponding form in the breechblock 0, with the face of the plug flush with the face of thebreech-block. The rear end of the plug projects beyond the rear side of the breech-block, and is provided with a screwthread for the reception of the nut E, by which means the plug is held tightly and firmly in its seat. The firing-pin Gr works longitudinally in the plug D, parallel with one of its tapering sides, and is provided with a spring, f, for holding it in a retracted p0sition.

When the plug is in the position shown in Fig.1, the firing-pin is adjusted for centerfiring. By loosening the nut E and rotating the plug in its seat in the breech-block a dis tance equal to about a half-circle, the firingpin is adjusted for rim firing, and is so held, tightly and firmly, by simply tightening the nut. Thus the firing-pin is readily adjusted to, and securely held in, either of the positions described without the necessity for removing any of the parts from the breech-block. If the plug is made cylindrical, the firing-pin may be arranged either obliquely to the axis, or paralleltherewith, but eccentric thereto. By making the plug tapering, it is impossible for it to be blown out when the charge is exploded.

By this construction and arrangement of the plug and firing-pin, they may be applied to fire-arms of various descriptions, and are adapted to barrels of various caliber-s; so that a barrel may be removed from the stock and replaced by one of different caliber, as indicated in Fig. 4, without changing the plug or firing-pin.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the breech-block of a fire-arm, the firing-pin G, having a reciprocating longitudinal motion, and the plug D capable of a rotating motion in the breech-block, the whole so constructed and arranged that the firing-pin can be adjusted to strike either the center or edge of the cartridge, substantially as described.

LUUIUS DIMOOK. Witnesses:

E. FREEMAN, GEORGE H. RAY. 

